[Table of Contents]

Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 8, 3404055 (2013)

Regular Articles

Ultraintense Lasers as a Promising Research Tool for Fusion Material Testing: Production of Ions, X-Rays and Neutrons
Jesus ALVAREZ1), Kunioki MIMA1,2), Kazuo A. TANAKA3), Javier FERNANDEZ1), David GAROZ1), Hideaki HABARA3), Kenshiro KIKUYAMA3), Kiminori KONDO4) and Jose M. PERLADO1)
1)
Instituto de Fusión Nuclear, Univesidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28006, Spain
2)
The Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-1202, Japan
3)
Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 569-0871, Japan
4)
Kansai Photon Science Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Association, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
(Received 1 June 2012 / Accepted 20 January 2013 / Published 22 May 2013)

Abstract

Laser fusion environments are characterized by prompt bursts of high energy neutrons, ions and X-rays which are absorbed by different components of the fusion reaction chamber. In particular, plasma facing components are subjected to extreme conditions and prior to their use in the reactors they must be validated under stringent irradiation tests. However, the particular characteristics of the fusion products, i.e. very short pulses, very high fluences and broad particle energy spectra are difficult to reproduce in test laboratories, making those validations hard to be carried out. In the present work, the ability of ultraintense lasers to create the appropriate characteristics of laser fusion bursts is addressed. A description of a possible experimental set-up to generate the appropriate ion pulses with lasers is presented. At the same time, the possibility of generating X-ray or neutron beams which reproduce those of laser fusion environments is also pointed out and assessed under current laser intensities. It is concluded that ultraintense lasers should play a relevant role in the validation of materials for laser fusion facilities and immediate action for this systematic study is called for.

Keywords

laser fusion, fusion material, plasma facing component, ultraintense laser, ion beam, X-ray, neutron

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.8.3404055

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This paper may be cited as follows:

Jesus ALVAREZ, Kunioki MIMA, Kazuo A. TANAKA, Javier FERNANDEZ, David GAROZ, Hideaki HABARA, Kenshiro KIKUYAMA, Kiminori KONDO and Jose M. PERLADO, Plasma Fusion Res. 8, 3404055 (2013).